The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-08-06
THE IGNORANT coNrRAcroR.
Alex. Sweet, in N. Y, Mercury.


 Colonel McCacken, U. s. A., was the chief Quartermaster, stationed at San Antonio, Texas. He had adver- tised for bids to supply the post with corn, and the contract was to De awarded on a certain day. Colonel McCracken was believed to be an honorable and conscientious officer, who would not take bribe under any circumstances.
 Tom Rowell, of the firm of Rowell < Smith, WAS a sharp, shrewd business man, who was very anxious to get the contract to supply the post of San Antonio with corn, but he did not think it was quite safe to offer the quartermaster bribe, as he had done on previous occasions with other quartermasters, After thinking over the matter for some time he adopted the following plan to carry out his purpose;
 He called at Quartermaster Me- Cracken's office, and asked that officer in an insinuating manner to see that he got fair play when the bids were opened. Colonel McCr.cken replied in very dignified manner;
 "The contract, sir, will be awarded to the lowest and best bidder,'
 Tom Rowell took up his hat and bowed himself out. In doing so he dropped on the floor an envelope containing five one thousand dollar bills, the name of the firm of Rowell X Smith being on the envelope.
 Rowell immediately went to the office of the chief of police, and in- formed him that he had lost an ad- dressed envelope containing five ono thousand dollar bills.
 Rowell argued in this way:
 "If Colonel McCracken keeps the money, m get the contract, and l can well afford to let him keep the $5,0o0. If he, on the other hand, thinks am trying to bribe him and gets mad about it, will simply say l dropped the envelope on the floor ac cidentally, and had no intention of bribing him, and that didn't know where had lost the money"
 Rowcll had scarcely returned to his office from notifying the police of his loss, when In rushed Colonel Me Cracken, his face flushed, very much excited and holding the envelope in his hand.
 "What do you mean. sir" he ex- claimed, "by trying to bribc a United States otiicer2 This Is an insult sir" and he slammed the envelope down on the table.
 Rowell made out that he was very angry at the insinuation. He pounded on the desk with his fist and roared out:
 "And what do you mean, sir, by charging me with attempting to brlbe anybody? merely asked you to sec that my bid was properly considered. I dropped that envelope without knowing it, and have been hunting all over town for 1t. l want you to understand, sir, that l an gentle man, even if am only civilian"
 "Now, that's just little thin," re- tortei Colonel McCmcken.
 "Well, sir, Pll prove to you that you dTc UllHUhcU, uIIu tHcu riWil expect an apology" replied Powell. And going to the telephone he re- quested the chief of police to come immediately to the office of Howell & Smith. That official was there In n few minutes and fully confirmed Rowell's statement that he had nos tifed the police of the loss of the money as soon as he had missed 1t.
 Colonel McCrackcn was over whelmed with modification at having unjustly accused an innocent man of having attempted to bribe him. ie was profuse in his apologies, which Rowell at length accepted.
 The bids were opened next day, and 1t was found that Rowells bid was not the lowest, but Colonel Mc- Cracken, feeling that he owed Rowell some reparation, decided that the bondsmen of the lower bidder were not good, and gave the contract to Powell, who cleared upwards of s25- 900 out of 1t, without having to spend A canf fin In uhricaf fa anyh hnIy